Patents by Inventor Barbara L. Heyl

Barbara L. Heyl has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5824276
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for uniformly contacting an article with a treatment solution. Preferred embodiments are methods of uniformly tinting of contact lenses or uniformly surface modifying contact lenses. The method involves suspending the lens in the treatment solution by application of fluid flow, preferably sinusoidal or pulsed, in a direction opposite the stagnant force (i.e., sum of buoyancy and gravity forces) on the article. The fluid flow prevents the lens from contacting the container structure for periods sufficient to cause non-uniform treatment conditions, while continuously mixing the treatment solution to maintain uniform concentrations throughout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: CIBA Vision Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Janssen, Barbara L. Heyl, Roger J. Hoffman, Thomas E. Shank
  • Patent number: 5665420
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for uniformly contacting an article with a treatment solution. Preferred embodiments are methods of uniformly tinting of contact lenses or uniformly surface modifying contact lenses. The method involves suspending the lens in the treatment solution by application of fluid flow, preferably sinusoidal or pulsed, in a direction opposite the stagnant force (i.e., sum of buoyancy and gravity forces) on the article. The fluid flow prevents the lens from contacting the container structure for periods sufficient to cause non-uniform treatment conditions, while continuously mixing the treatment solution to maintain uniform concentrations throughout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Ciba Vision Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Janssen, Barbara L. Heyl, Roger J. Hoffman, Thomas E. Shank
  • Patent number: 5639378
    Abstract: A dispensing device having a container body defining a solution retaining chamber therein, the container having an outlet for dispensing the solution from the chamber and means for removing a component from the solution as the solution is dispensed from the chamber through the container outlet. A method is provided for administering to a patient a pharmacologically active substance which substance is stable only at a pH value which is extreme in the acidic or alkaline region and at which pH value the substance cannot be administered without causing discomfort and/or injury to the patient. The substance is maintained in a solution or dispersion at the pH at which it is stable until the time of administration. At this time the substance is administered through a chamber containing an ion exchange resin which changes the pH of the solution or dispersion to a value which will not cause discomfort and/or injury to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Barbara L. Heyl, Lynn C. Winterton, Kai C. Su, Jack C. White
  • Patent number: 5618492
    Abstract: A process for producing a sterile article in a sealed container during a continuous production process. In a preferred embodiment, a contact lens is immersed in an ozone-containing solution within a container during a continuous lens packaging process, and the lens and container are subsequently subjected to ultraviolet radiation. This process sterilizes the contact lens and lens container in order to maintain the contact lens in a sterile environment during shipping, handling, and storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Inventors: Richard D. Auten, Barbara L. Heyl
  • Patent number: 5612361
    Abstract: A dispensing device having a container body defining a solution retaining chamber therein, the container having an outlet for dispensing the solution from the chamber and means for removing a component from the solution as the solution is dispensed from the chamber through the container outlet. A method is provided for administering to a patient a pharmacologically active substance which substance is stable only at a pH value which is extreme in the acidic or alkaline region and at which pH value the substance cannot be administered without causing discomfort and/or injury to the patient. The substance is maintained in a solution or dispersion at the pH at which it is stable until the time of administration. At this time the substance is administered through a chamber containing an ion exchange resin which changes the pH of the solution or dispersion to a value which will not cause discomfort and/or injury to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Barbara L. Heyl, Lynn C. Winterton, Kai C. Su, Jack C. White
  • Patent number: 5496471
    Abstract: A dispensing device having a container body defining a solution retaining chamber therein, the container having an outlet for dispensing the solution from the chamber and means for removing a component from the solution as the solution is dispensed from the chamber through the container outlet. A method is provided for administering to a patient a pharmacologically active substance which substance is stable only at a pH value which is extreme in the acidic or alkaline region and at which pH value the substance cannot be administered without causing discomfort and/or injury to the patient. The substance is maintained in a solution or dispersion at the pH at which it is stable until the time of administration. At this time the substance is administered through a chamber containing an ion exchange resin which changes the pH of the solution or dispersion to a value which will not cause discomfort and/or injury to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Barbara L. Heyl, Lynn C. Winterton, Kai C. Su, Jack C. White
  • Patent number: 5431879
    Abstract: A method is provided for the sterilization or disinfection of an object in need of such treatment. The object is immersed in a sterilizing or disinfecting solution containing an antimicrobial effective amount of at least one cationic or at least one anionic antimicrobial agent in the presence of a scavenger element containing a scavenger material which is a cationic exchange resin or an anionic exchange resin. Over a period of time, the scavenger element removes from the solution the cationic or anionic antimicrobial agent at a rate which permits sterilization or disinfection of the object and which prevents undesirable build-up of the antimicrobial agent in or on the object. The object is allowed to remain in the solution for a time sufficient for the scavenger element to remove a sufficient amount of the antimicrobial agent to render the object safe for use for its intended purpose and the object is then removed from the solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Barbara L. Heyl, Lynn C. Winterton, Kai C. Su, Jack C. White, William M. Hung
  • Patent number: 5165918
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of dodecyl-dimethyl-(2 phenoxyethyl)-ammonium bromide as an antimicrobial agent to be a preservative for ophthalmic drug solutions, in disinfecting solutions, as well as in preservatives for aqueous ocular solutions for contact lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Barbara L. Heyl, Lynn C. Winterton, Fu-Pao Tsao
  • Patent number: 5080800
    Abstract: A dispensing device having a container body defining a solution retaining chamber therein, the container having an outlet for dispensing the solution from the chamber and means for removing a component from the solution as the solution is dispensed from the chamber through the container outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Barbara L. Heyl, Lynn C. Winterton, Kai C. Su, Jack C. White
  • Patent number: 5056689
    Abstract: A dispensing device having a container body defining a solution retaining chamber therein, the container having an outlet for dispensing the solution from the chamber and means for removing a component from the solution as the solution is dispensed from the chamber through the container outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Barbara L. Heyl, Lynn C. Winterton, Kai C. Su, Jack C. White